Drug trafficking networks operating in and around Spokane are a major driver of the city’s opioid crisis. A new federal prosecutor is now aiming to address addiction at its source by targeting these trafficking operations across the Pacific Northwest.
How Drug Trafficking Fuels Addiction in Spokane
Local and federal officials say enforcement efforts like this are one part of a broader strategy to reduce addiction rates by limiting access to dangerous substances like fentanyl. Annika Tangvald, 27, was sworn in as special assistant U.S. Attorney for the state’s Eastern District in May 2025 and it was a position decades in the making.
Tangvald was born and raised in Spokane and graduated from Gonzaga School of Law in 2023. She served as an intern at the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of her studies but it wasn’t her first time there. Her father served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for 22 years and later worked as a Spokane federal prosecutor. As a young girl, Annika always hoped to model her career path after his.
This new role follows her former position at the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office where she advanced from prosecuting minor offenses to working in the office’s felony unit. Her supervisors credit her work ethic, motivation, and intelligence as the keys to her success. Like her, they realize that this role is her life’s mission.
In her new position, Tangvald hopes to help curb the city’s drug crisis and prevent addiction by focusing on charges related to Spokane drug trafficking and narcotics possession. Here efforts come amid a surge in drug overdose deaths impacting western states, from Washington and Oregon to Nevada.
Why Fentanyl Trafficking Poses a Unique Risk
She’s paying specific attention to fentanyl and hopes to drastically reduce its presence on the streets. Her mission is to end the Spokane opioid crisis by disrupting supply sources and offering local treatment options. She notes that fentanyl is often added to other drugs and people don’t even know they’re taking it before it’s too late.
Public health experts warn that when drug trafficking increases so does the risk of addiction and overdose. In Spokane and across Washington this has made early education, prevention and access to treatment critical for individuals and families affected by substance use.
The new position is funded by taxes the city earns from the sale of marijuana. The Spokane City Council designated the money as a special revenue source and authorized the earnings to cover the position for the next two years. City Prosecutor Justin Bingham hopes that the results of Tangvald’s program will speak for themselves and the position will be renewed.
Finding Addiction Treatment and Support in Spokane
If drug use or opioid addiction is affecting you or someone you love in Spokane, help is available. Treatment options range from outpatient counseling and medication assisted treatment to residential rehab programs.
You can explore addiction treatment centers in Spokanae and across Washington to compare programs, levels of care and support services. If you need immediate help or aren’t sure where to start call
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